The 13 Best Heat Protectants for Hair of 2023

Best Overall

Living Proof Restore Perfecting Spray

5

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We love the heat protection this lightweight spritz delivers, but we also love its versatility. It can go on wet or dry hair (the ideal option when you want to use your straightener for a quick touch-up on second-day hair)—plus, it even works as a UV protectant, too. Also nice: It delivers mirror-like shine, no matter which way you use it. During testing, we noticed that it instantly made hair look glossy and healthy after application.

Price at time of publish: $32

Active Ingredients: Octafluoropentyl methacrylate (OFPMA) | Hair Type: All | Size: 5.5 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best Budget

Odele Leave-In Detangling Tonic

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This is the hero SKU from one of team Byrdie’s fave haircare brands to launch as of late. TBH, we didn’t realize that it even protected against heat until we read the fine print, but we were pleasantly surprised to learn it does. Plus, it guards not only against heat but also damage from environmental factors, and, per the name, works miracles when it comes to detangling even super stubborn snarls. And the price/value you’re getting can’t be beaten. Senior Commerce Editor Jill Di Donato especially loves this pick to use on her toddler's curly hair because it smooths tough knots and has a clean formula.

Price at time of publish: $11

Active Ingredients: Amino acids, plant proteins | Hair Type: All | Size: 8 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best Drugstore

Pantene Pro-V Heat Primer Thermal Heat Protectant

4.5

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Maybe you use hot tools daily and go through protective products like water, or maybe you just don’t like to spend big bucks on your haircare routine. Either way, this lightweight drugstore staple is a great choice. Mist it lightly all over pre-styling and let the protective polymers in the formula do their thing, protecting hair from temps up to 450 degrees.

Price at time of publish: $11

Active Ingredients: Vp/methacrylamide/vinyl imidazole copolymer | Hair Type: Fine, thin | Size: 6.4 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Dry Hair

Oribe Balm D’Or Heat Styling Shield

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Not only does this option protect hair from up to 450 degrees, but it also helps control frizz and add back moisture to dry hair, says Shelly Aguirre, a stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. She also lauds it for containing good-for-your-hair ingredients (biotin, maracuja oil), but also working well either on its own or layered with other products. Because of the creamy formula, fine hair types should only use a small amount throughout the hair.

Price at time of publish: $45

Active Ingredients: Biotin, maracuja oil | Hair Type: All | Size: 3.4 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Thick Hair

Bumble and bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Heat & UV Protective Primer

4.8

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As the name suggests, this product is packed with rich oils (coconut, argan, and macadamia, to name a few) to hydrate and soften super thick or coarse hair. It also works well to tamp down frizz and guards against both heat and UV damage, all without leaving behind any kind of unwanted residue. During testing, we found that it works miracles for dry, frizzy hair—being able to hydrate while staying lightweight.

Price at time of publish: $32

Active Ingredients: Shea butter, grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, macadamia integrifolia seed oil, coconut oil | Hair Type: Straight to curly | Size: 8.5 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Fine Hair

Kerastase Résistance Ciment Thermique Blow Dry Primer

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“This cream-based heat protectant is a must when styling finer or damaged hair,” says Aguirre. “The pro-keratin complex, a blend of protein and amino acids, helps promote healthy hair,” she says. And even though it’s a cream, it won’t weigh down your hair. However, reviewers did note that it could make the hair look greasy if applied to the roots, so just make sure to focus application on your actual strands.

Price at time of publish: $42

Active Ingredients: Pro-keratine complex, ceramides | Hair Type: All, especially good for fine hair | Size: 5.1 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Relaxed Hair

Moroccanoil Perfect Defense Heat Protectant

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Although rich argan oil is the key ingredient here, this aerosol spray is surprisingly dry and weightless, which makes it a great pick for relaxed hair. It contains conditioning panthenol, too, and boasts a lovely signature scent that’s so good it'll make you reach for the product daily.

Price at time of publish: $30

Active Ingredients: Argan oil, octylacrylamide/acrylates/butylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymer | Hair Type: All | Size: 6 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best for Curly Hair

Mielle Organics Mongongo Oil Thermal & Heat Protectant Spray

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No matter whether you’re blow-drying and straightening your naturally curly texture or are using an iron to add definition to your curls, heat protectants are especially important for those with curly hair. Enter this pick, which relies on a combo of organic oils to shield hair from heat, add shine, and smooth out frizz. Be sure to apply conservatively however, because reviewers note it can leave a residue if too much is used.

Price at time of publish: $10

Active Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, sacha inchi oil, argan oil, mongongo oil | Hair Type: All | Size: 4 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Frizz

Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection & Heat Protectant Crème

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Frizz got you down? You can count on this protective blow dry cream to keep hair smooth, shiny, and flyaway-free. Designed for all hair types from straight and fine to thick and oily, the formula counts on a trio of nourishing plant oils (read: rosehip, argan, and coconut) to seal in moisture, prevent damage, add shine and prevent pesky frizz before it starts. Plus, it protects hair from heat styling up to 450 degrees, making it the perfect companion for use with your hot tools.

Price at time of publish: $26

Active Ingredients: Rosehip, argan, and coconut oils | Hair Type: All | Size: 4 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best for Colored Hair

Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray

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Water is hair color’s worst enemy, but heat is a close second. (Not to mention that the more heat-damaged your hair is, the less it'll be able to absorb color evenly.) This hydrating spritz packs a whopping 21 benefits, including, of course, color preservation and heat protection, and works great for all hair types and textures.

Price at time of publish: $49

Active Ingredients: Coconut oil, camelina oil, olive oil | Hair Type: All | Size: 13.5 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Damaged Hair

Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil

5

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Heat protectants are a must for preventing future hair stress, but if the damage has already been done and your hair is in need of some extra TLC, reach for this reparative and heat-protecting oil. Like all of the Olaplex products (which Byrdie editors rave about, BTW), it works by targeting and repairing the broken protein bonds in the hair. In short, hair is left smoother, softer, shinier, stronger, and with more vibrant color. The bottle may seem tiny for the price, but just a little bit of this oil goes a long way.

Price at time of publish: $30

Active Ingredients: Bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, grape seed oil | Hair Type: All | Size: 1 fluid ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Blow-Outs

Oribe Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray

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Aguirre also loves this option from Oribe, calling it a “game-changer,” especially for unruly and thick hair types. It adds shine, protects from heat damage and helps you create an incredible-looking blowout at the same time, even if you’re blowing out curly hair, she says.

Price at time of publish: $69

Active Ingredients: Rosehip fruit oil, avocado oil, argan oil | Hair Type: All, except fine | Size: 5.9 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes